What does "heritage" mean?

1. (cultural history) the traditions, languages, and historical buildings that belong to a culture and are passed down to new generations. 2. (family background) your family's history, including where they came from and their ethnic background. 3. (inheritance) property or money that is passed down to you when someone dies. 4. (traditional varieties) used to describe older types of plants or animals that are not used in modern industrial farming.

How do you use "heritage"?

Usually sits before the noun it describes.

heritage

US //ˈhɛɹətədʒ// UK //hˈɛɹɪtɪdʒ// her·itage

1 cultural history (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the traditions, languages, and historical buildings that belong to a culture and are passed down to new generations.

the collective body of traditions, monuments, and cultural achievements inherited from past generations. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

Example

The city is proud of its rich musical heritage and has many famous concert halls.

Example

Preserving the nation's architectural heritage requires a delicate balance between modern urban development and the restoration of historical landmarks.
2 family background (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

your family's history, including where they came from and their ethnic background.

the ethnic, linguistic, or social background of a person's ancestors. Often used as a modifier in phrases like 'heritage speaker'.

Example

She is of Italian heritage and grew up speaking both English and Italian at home.

Example

The university offers specialized courses for heritage learners who have a high level of oral proficiency but limited formal training in their family's native language.

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3 inheritance (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

property or money that is passed down to you when someone dies.

property, assets, or status that may be inherited by legal right or succession.

Example

The old estate was part of his family heritage, passed down for three centuries.

Example

The legal dispute centered on whether the ancestral lands constituted a part of the indivisible heritage of the firstborn son.
4 traditional varieties (n.)
C1 Advanced American English

used to describe older types of plants or animals that are not used in modern industrial farming.

denoting traditional varieties of seeds, plants, or animal breeds that were common before the advent of industrial agriculture. Used attributively.

Example

The farmer grows heritage tomatoes because they have much more flavor than supermarket ones.

Example

The conservation project aims to protect heritage breeds of sheep that are better adapted to the local climate than modern commercial varieties.

Usage

Usually sits before the noun it describes.
- heirloom
- traditional
- commercial
- industrial

Origin

From Middle English heritage, from Old French eritage, heritage (modern French héritage), ultimately derived (through suffixation) from Latin hērēs. By surface analysis, herit + -age.